New Caricom Energy Policy ratified

A draft Caricom Energy Policy was ratified during the 41st Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (Coted) on energy in Port-of-Spain on Friday and will now be submitted to the respective governments for Cabinet approval. For more than a decade, the policy, which was mandated by the Caricom Heads of Government, was under formulation and review. 

The goal of the policy is the fundamental transformation of the energy sector of Caricom through the provision of secure and sustainable supplies of energy in a manner which minimizes energy waste in all sectors. Targets towards such efficiency have been set in the policy. The document will be presented to the Heads of Government for endorsement.

“For more than a decade, the policy, which was mandated by the CaricomHeads of Government, was under formulation and review,” the Caricom Secretariat said in a statement released after the meeting. 

“The goal of the policy is the fundamental transformation of the energy sector of Caricom through the provision of secure and sustainable supplies of energy in a manner which minimises energy waste in all sectors. Targets towards such efficiency have been set in the policy. The document will now be presented to the Heads of Government of Caricom for endorsement.”

After encouraging his colleagues to “walk the talk,” Chair of the Meeting, Rayburn Blackmoore, Minister of Public Works, Energy and Ports of Dominica, announced the policy’s approval last Friday afternoon. He described the adoption of the policy as “historic, bearing in mind this year marks 40 years since the oil crisis.

“We recognise therefore from a collective standpoint if we are to really realise economic development there must be something deliberate by way of a policy direction,” he said, adding there is a need to develop the energy sector to reduce the cost of energy. Blackmoore said that the policy document in itself takes into account the efforts of all member states and “it will provide a road map with specific timelines which will serve as a guide for member states.”

Noting that the energy issue was one that struck at the heart of humanity and “our people”, Belize Minister with responsibility for Energy Joy Grant said she was happy the meeting had approved the policy that would set outer bounds of “what we have to do.”